Seed drill



April 11, 1939. L, J PETTETT 2,153,991

SEED DRILL Filed Oct. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \r. INVENTOR. LEV/ J'A'CA P577577 ATTORNEY.

April 1939- v J. PETTETT 2,153,991

SEED DRILL Filed Oct. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r f I (II V Irrr- 7 INVENTOR. LEV/x7776 PTTETT ATTORNEY.

April 1939. L. J. PETTETT 2,153,991

SEED DRILL Filed Oct. 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 q ,6) J5 Hi A Q I i-- ||:I

27 I P1 26 I l[ 44 46 4.; 46 4/ :1 M i l l 40 I 45 j /7 I i J I /a '1 I f 1 4d .1 I I 1', f 2/ i. l l' 1 1! /7 :20 i' i f a ATTORNEY.

April 11, 1939. PE 2,153,991

SEED DRILL I Filed Oct. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to seed drills. and more particularly to a seed drill equipped with a common seed and fertilizer dropping mechanism for use in connection with seed drills having furrow openers producing a furrow having a substantially flat bottom of greater width than furrows opened by conventional seed drill plows.

It has long been recognized that in the planting of seed in orderly rows the conventional meth 0d of erecting a check-wire has many disadvantages; In addition, conventional drills usually have been designed with separate controlling mechanisms for the delivery of seed and fertilizer. i5 furrow opener has been of such shape that the furrow has been V or triangular in form. The shape of the furrow has necessitated that either the seed and fertilizer were subjected to mutual contact or were deposited at difierent'depths.

A recent improvement in seed drills has provided the art with a mechanism for depositing the fertilizer as an ellipse'or in parallel bands at a different depth in the soil than that at which the seed is deposited. However, it is known that 25 everi these improvements have not resulted in the attainment of the most desirable conditions. The effect of depositing fertilizer at the same depth as the seed in comparison with the deposition of the fertilizer at a different depth is 30 brought out very well by recent studies of the problem, the results of which have been published. 1 7 When beans were fertilized by placing the fertilizer two inches below the seed, the yield was 2706 pounds per acre for 300 pounds of fertilizer.

When 300 pounds of fertilizer were deposited in bands 1.5 inches to the sides of the seed, the yield was 3898 pounds per acre. This was .an increase of 44% as a result of the change of the 40' spatial relationship of the seed and fertilizer. It is to be appreciated that the fertilizer at'the ends of the bands or at the ends of the major axes of an ellipse is at a greater distance from the seed than that near the middle of the parallel 4;, bands or at the ends of the minor axes of an ellipse. This fact should .be borne in mind since a small difference in the distanceat which the fertilizer is placed from the seed makes considerable difierence in the efliciency of the fertiliza- 50 tion. This is brought out quite clearly by the following. When the fertilizer is placed in bands at approximately the same level as the seed the yield of beans was increased by 44%. A change a of one inch in the distance between the seed and 55 the fertilizer resulted in a difference in the yield Furthermore, the conventional plow or of beans of 603 pounds per acre when the same small amount of fertilizer (300 pounds per acre) was used. Thusalthough many attempts have been made to solve this vexatious and difficult problem of depositing the seed and fertilizer efiiciently, none so far as I am aware have been wholly successful when carried into practice on a commercial scale.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a common dropping mechanism for seed and fertilizer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for depositing fertilizer at ent invention to. provide a means integral with the seed drill for controlling the interval between successive depositions of seed and fertilizer.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a drill embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a drill embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a drill with parts broken away for reasons of clarity to show the marking elements.

Fig. 4 is a vertical; sectional view of a dropping mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a reduced cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 to show the furrow opener and rake embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a top elevational view of a metering device for controlling the deposition ofseed embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of a gear box embodying the principles of the present invention with parts broken away for reasons of clarity; and i Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional viewwith parts in elevation and parts broken away for reasons of clarity of a gear box embodying the principles of the present invention.

Broadly stated, my improved seed drill includes the conventional running gear for a vehicle of this type and, in addition, a special plow -.or furrow opener, a special seed and fertilizer the hopper to the drilling member. .20

distributing mechanism andmeans integral with the drill for controlling the spacing of successive depositions of seed and fertilizer. By means of the furrow opener of special design or a similar device the soil is opened in such a manner that the furrow has a bottom of substantial width. By means of an arm driven through appropriate gears the valves through which the seed and fertilizer are deposited are opened and closed by a common element. The operation of the valves is coordinated with the feeding of the seed from By means of a gear box the spaces between successive depositions of seed is controlled. The engagement and disengagement of the moving parts is accomplished by means of a clutch mounted upon the gear box. In this way it is possible to start and stop the deposition of seed and fertilizer as 21511 as control the distance between successive Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, H is a wedge shaped shoe or plow for opening the soil preparatory to depositing the seed and fertilizer. Of course, there may be a plurality of such shoes or plows. After the seed and fertilizer have been deposited, spring drag teeth, two discs,rake l2 or a similar device throws the soil back into the furrow. Fertilizer is contained in a conventional hopper I! provided with a conventional metering plate. A flexible tube i4 and a channel 15 form a conduit connecting the fertilizer hopper and metering device I: with the outer casing of tube l5 of the dropping mechanism. Casing I 8 is provided with a baflle I1. Fertilizer F accumulates between depositions in a manner such as indicated in Fig. 4.

A conventional seed hopper I8 is provided with a special metering plate 55 provided with notches 54. Hopper l8 opens into a channel l9 which connects with tube or casing 24 coaxial with casing I5 and slidably mounted therein. Predetermined quantities of seed 8 are maintained as indicated in Fig. 4 during the interval elapsing between depositions of seed and fertilizer. A space 2| of suitable dimensions is formed be tween tube and casing I through which the fertilizer drops. Toward the lower extremity of tube is a wing-like appendage 22 which acts as a valve to shut off the flow of seed and fertilizer from tube 20 and easing I 5. Centrally disposed within tube 20 and coaxial therewith is a rod 23 provided with an enlargement or valve plug 24 at the lower extremity. Valve 25 is closed by plug 24 when 22 is in position A (Fig. 4). Valve 25 is open when 22 is in position B (Fig. 4)

The special metering plate provided in hopper I8 is driven by spiral gears 21 and 28 having a 2:1 ratio which in turn are driven through gear box 41' by sprocket gear 29 having 14 teeth. Sprocket 29 is in turn driven from the wheels 52 by means of chain 30- and sprocket 3| mounted on wheel axle 32. Chain 30 also provides means for the transmission of power to sprocket 33 which drives the fertilizer metering device under hopper l3 through gears 53 and 54. A means of maintaining substantially constant tension on chain 30 is provided at 34.

Motion is imparted to tube 20 by means .of

arm 35 pivotably attached at 38 to tube 20 and at 38 to frame 39. Arm 35 is pivotably mounted at 40 to push rod 4| slidably mounted on rod 42 and working against the helical spring 43. Rod 4! is provided with a roller 44 journaled at 45 near the upper end of the push rod 4!. Roller 44 engages the operative surface of cam 46. Cam 4B is driven by gears 21 and 28. Elements I60, 39, 48, 49 and 50 together with others not shown form the frame with which the other elements are associated. It is obvious that element 48 together with the casing l5 form the rigid support for plow H and rake I2. The lever 5| pivoted at 51 provides means for actuating the clutching mechanism and gear ratio changing means in connection with gear box 41.

Figs. 7 and-8 provide a detailed view of the planetary gear box 41 for changing the relative speed of gear 21 with respect to axle 32 and for engaging or releasing the means of power transmission.

In order that those skilled in the art may have a better understanding of the present invention, the operation of my improved seed and fertilizer dropping mechanism will be described in connection with the planting of corn, although it is to be understood that other seeds may be dropped by means of the improved seed drill.

After the soil has been prepared for drilling my improved drill is especially advantageous for drilling in the seed simultaneously with the deposition of accurately measured quantities of fertilizer. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the optimum conditions for most efllcient utilization of fertilizer are those in which the fertilizer is placed at substantially the same level as the seed and in such a manner that substantially all the particles of fertilizer are practically equidistant from the seed. My improved plow or furrow opener or a similar device establishes a furrow which is ideal for such spatial relationship between the seed and the fertilizer. As is readily seen in Fig. 5 my improved plow is of wedge shape and so designed as to insure that the furrow will have a substantially flat surface at the bottom. The bottom of the furrow is of sufllcient width to provide ample space for the fertilizer to be placed in a circle around the seed with the seed as the approximate center. Thus, that which cannot be done with the usual type of furrow opener of say, the common disk or similar type, is readily accomplished with a plow or furrow opener of the shape of my improved plow or one of similar design. It will be appreciated that my improved furrow opener leaves a furrow which may be described as trapezoidal in shape with the sides at an angle with the bottom greater than a right angle. However, the geometric figure to which the shape of the furrow may be compared is ofless importance than the production of a furrow with a bottom of substantial width in which practically all points lie in substantially the same plane. While I prefer to use my improved plow, any plow or furrow opener that will produce a furrow having a flat bottom with sufficient width to permit -depositing all of the fertilizer at substantially equal distances from the seed or as a circle of which the seed is the center may be employed,

It is to be observed that by the useof my improved seed drill it is possible for the user thereof to dispense with the conventional check-wire. This improvement is possible through the use of the planetary gear box 41. By means of this gear box theoperator of my improved drill may at stated intervals. Seed plate 55 makes onehalf revolution for each deposit of seed and is provided with two sets of seed notches placed at 180. Cam 46 likewise is'provided with two lobes placed at 180. By this arrangement the peripheral speed of plate 55 is kept low permitting the seed notches 58 to fill more readily. The seed drops .out of the hopper as the notches 55 pass the outlet of the hopper l8. Arm 35 is moved up and down at predetermined intervals by means of push rod 4| acting against helical spring 43 which acts to close valve 25 as rapidly as the rotation of cam 46 will permit. Push rod 4| is actuated by means of gear 28 acting through cam 46. As a result of the motion of arm 35, tube 28 drops and rises to open and close the valve at 25. The rotating cam 46 acting through roller 45 imparts an acceleration of less than 32 feet per second to the tube 28 and will close the valve 25 as rapidly as spring 43 will permit. Since the fertil zer must fall farther than the seed, the length of the fixed plug 24 is so arranged that the s ed is released just as the fertilizer passes the point where the end of the fixed plug 24 clears the seed. allowing the seed and fertilizer to fall to the bottom of the furrow together.

With the gears 21 and 28 set to operate at the required speed to deposit the seed at the desired intervals the drill is brought to the head of the row and the gears thrown into engagement by means of lever 5|. Seed is carried inhopper i8 and fertilizer'is carried in hopper I3. By means of a conventional metering device at the bottom of hopper l3 fertilizer is delivered in a substantially constant stream to flexible tube l4. Motion is imparted to the metering device by sprocket wheel 33 through gears 53 and 54.

From I4 the fertilizer passes under the influence of gravity to channel l5 and from that conduit the fertilizer passes to the fixed casing l6. In passing down through Hi the baffle ensures that the fertilizer F will be evenly distributed around the entire periphery of tube 28 as indicated in Fig. 4. Thus, it is certain that the fertilizer will be in a position to be deposited in a circle or annulus when the valve 25 opens as a result. of the displacement of tube 28 in a downward position, In this manner the deposition of both seed .and fertilizer is controlled by a common means.

Seed is stored in hopper l8 and by means of the special metering plate 55 is discharged through the notches 58 into channel l8. From the channel IS the seed is delivered into the movable tube 20 in accurately measured quantities. tioning the lobes of the cam 45 in proper relation to the seed notches 56 the valve 25 can be made to open during'the time when plate 55 is not admitting seed to the seed chamber or tube 28. Motion is imparted to gears 21 and 28 through gear box '41 by means of chain 38 operating through sprocket wheel 29. The downward movement of the arm 35 opens the valve 25 to permit By p a metered amount of seed S (Fig. 4) to drop into the furrow and at the approximate center of a ring or annulus of fertilizer. Since the fertilizer at the bottom of chamber 2| must fall further than the seed the length of the fixed plug 24 on rod 23is-so arranged that the seed is released just as the fertilizer passes the point where the end of the fixed plug 24 clears the seed, allowing theseed and the fertilizer to fall to the bottom ofthe furrow simultaneously. After the seed and the fertilizer have been deposited rake H or some similar device throws or pushes the soil or earth back into the furrow thus covering the seed and the fertilizer.

The operation of the spacing mechanism of my improved seed drill will be readily appreciated by reference to Figs. '7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of planetary gear box 41 with parts broken away for reasons of clarity. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation and parts broken away of gear box 41. Referring more particularly to Fig. 8 sprocket wheel 28 is keyed to tubular shaft l9 and drives planet wheel 8| through arm 68. Planet wheels ill, 82 and 83 are keyed together and are free to rotate as a unit on stud 64. Gears 85, 58 and 81 are free to rotate on shaft 88. The internal gear 59 is carried on a series'of rollers 18 which hold gear 68 concentric with shaft 58. With sliding key 72 in the position shown in Fig. 8 and the internal gear 68 locked by means of band H and lever 5|,

the drive is from sprocket 29, through arm 58,

through planet gear 6|, to gear 65 which is, of course, under these circumstances now keyed to shaft 68 by the sliding key 12 held in position by ters. With sliding key 12 shifted so that gear 85- is keyed to shaft 68, the drill deposits seed at approximately 36 inch centers, and the drive is from sprocket 29 through arm 88, to planet gear 5|, thence to planet gear 83, to planet gear 85 and thence to shaft 58 With the gear 81 keyed to shaft 58 the planter deposits seed at approximately 48 inch centers and the drive is from sprocket 29 through arm 88, planet gear 8|, planet gear 62 to gear 61 and thence to shaft 88. Washers I5 and 18 cause key 12 to recede into a milled recess in shaft 88 as key 12 is moved from one position to another by means of handle 14. Handle 14 is of the conventional type and pivoted at 88 on a fixed pin 8| By means of band II, the depositing mechanism is thrown out of gear whenever it is desirable or necessary.

For-the purpose of providing guides for the operator a marker 18 (Figs..2 and 3) is prefer ably located on the longitudinal median line of the seed drill frame and is rotatably. mounted on shaft 19. Shaft 19 is journaled in element 88. The member 88 is pivotally mounted on shaft 88.

-Arm 88 is likewise 'pivotably mounted at 8| on the head 82 of the plunger 83. By means of spring 84 member 88 is resiliently held in a position to allow marker 18 to rotate on shaft I9 When starting to drill a row the operator positions the drill and the marker 18 is directly over the desired starting point, locks lever in the 'anisms embodying the principles of the operating position and proceeds with the planting. Since shaft 68 makes one revolution for each deposition of seed and marker 18 revolves at a 1:1 ratio with 68 it is apparent that every time the planter deposits seed and fertilizer marker 18 scores the soil. Of course this marker is not necessary when not planting in the socalled check row fashion.

It is to be observed that my improved drill insures that the seed and the fertilizer will be deposited at substantially the same level. Deleterious effects resulting from mutual contact of fertilizer and seed are eliminated by my improved drill while at the same time the beneficial effects of optimum spatial relationship of each seed and fertilizerare obtained efficiently and in a prac tical manner. The fertilizer is deposited in such a manner that practically all of the fertilizer is substantially equidistant from the seed. As a result of the design of my improved drill the seed and fertilizer are delivered in measured quantities at successive predetermined intervals without the use of the conventional time consuming checkwire. The driven gears controlling the deposition of the seed and fertilizer are released and engaged by means of a simple mechanism. The magnitude of the intervals between successive depositions of seed and fertilizer is controlled by the same mechanism in a simple and fool-proof manner. Furthermore, seed and fertilizer are deposited from separate tubes cooperatively controlled through a common mechanism by a single moving element. By means of the gear box 41' the deposition of the seed and the fertilizer is started and stopped at the desired places in a simple effective manner by means of a mechanism integral with the drill. It is obvious that motion is imparted to the various gears and moving parts of my improved drill from the displacement of the drill, by means of chain 30 and sprocket 3|. Of course sprocket 3| derives its motion from the movement of wheel 52.

While my improved drill has been described as an integral article it is to be understood that conventional drills may be equipped with mechpresent invention.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with particular embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of specification and the claims as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Thus the inner tube of the depositing means need not be disposed centrally of the casing but may be oil= set. Likewise means other than metering plates may be used for accurately predetermining quantities of seed to be delivered to the depositing means. Similarly means other than the planetary gears may be used for actuating'the depositing mechanism at predetermined intervals. Such variations and modifications are to be considered within the purview of the specification and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a seed drill. the combination comprising a frame, a seed tank and a fertilizer tank mount- 1 means for simultaneously opening the discharge end of said seed tube and of said fertilizer tube to cause discharge of seed and a ring of fertilizer therefrom.

2. In a seed drill, the combination of a frame; a plurality of wheels carrying said frame; a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks mounted in said frame; aplurality of depositing means for distributing seed and fertilizer simultaneously; said depositing means including a fertilizer tube, a seed tube disposed centrally within said fertilizer tube, and closure means associated with said tubes to cause simultaneous discharge of seed and a ring of fertilizer therefrom; and conduit means connecting said seed tanks and said fertilizer tanks with said depositing means.

3. In a seed drill, the combination of a frame; a plurality of wheels carrying said frame, a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks mounted in said frame, a plurality of depositing means, coriduit means connecting said tanks and said depositing means, said depositing means including a casing, a movable tube dis posed within said casing and dividing the same into a fertilizer chamber and a seed chamber, a rod coaxial with said movable tube, and closure means attached to the lower extremity of said movable tube to normally maintain said fertilizer and said chambers closed and adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said casing and of said rod to cause simultaneous discharge of seed and a ring of fertilizer therefrom when said movable tube is displaced.

4. In a seed drill, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels carrying said frame, a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks associated with said frame, a plurality of depositing means, conduit means connecting said tanks and said depositing means, said depositing means including a casing, a movable tube disposed centrally within said casing and dividing said casing into a fertilizer chamber and a seed chamber, a rod coaxial with said movable tube, closure meansattached in the region of the lower extremity of said movable tube and adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said casing and said rod to normally maintain said seed and fertilizer chambers closed and to cause the simultaneous deposit of seed and fertilizer when said movable tube is displaced, means for displacing said movable tube vertically, and means for returning said tube to the original position, whereby said seed and an annulus of fertilizer are discharged simultaneously therewith.

5'. In a seed drill, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels carrying said frame, a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks mounted in said frame, a ,plurality of depositing means, conduit means connecting said tanks and said depositing means, said depositing means including a casing, a vertically disposed movable tube concentric with said casing and dividing said easing into a fertilizer chamber and a seed chamber, and a rod coaxial with said movable tube, closure means attached in the.lower region of said movable tube and adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said'casing and said rod, resilient means to hold said closure means normally in a closed position,.and cam actuated means to open said closure means and deposit seed within an annuwith.

6.. In a seed drill, the combination comprising 'lus of fertilizer deposited simultaneously there- V metering plates disposed within said seed tanks and intermediate to said conduit means and said seed and adapted to deliver seed to said conduit means, said depositing means including a vertical casing, a concentric movable vertical tube disposed within said casing and dividing said casing into a fertilizer chamber and a seed chamher, a rod-within said movable tube and coaxial therewith, closure means attached at the lower extremity of said movable tube and adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said casing and said rod to normally maintain said seed and fertilizer chambers closed, resilient means to maintain said closure means closed, and cam actuated means for vertically displacing said movable tube and for step-by-step angularly displacing said metering plates alternately whereby predetermined quantities of seed and an encircling ring of fertilizer are discharged simultaneously therewith.

7. In a seed drill, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels carrying said frame, a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks mounted in said frame, a plurality of depositing means, conduit means 'connecting said tanks and said depositing means,

a plurality of wedge-shaped furrow openers at-' tached at the lower extremities of said depositing vmeans adapted to provide furrows having an appreciable bottom width and outwardly sloping sides, relatively all points in said bottom being in the same plane, each of said depositing means including a casing, a coaxially movable tube dividing said easing into a fertilizer chamber and a seed chamber, a coaxial rod, within said 40 movable tube, closure means attached at the lower extremity of said movable tube and adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said casingand said rod to normally maintain said seed and fertilizer chambers closed, a metering plate within said seed tanks and intermediate to said seed and said seed conduit adapted todeliver predetermined quantities of seed to said conduit means, cam actuated means for displacing said movable tube and for angularly displacing said etering plate alternately whereby predetermlzed quantities of seed and encircling rings of fertilizer are deposited simultaneously at substantially the same level.

8. In a seed drill, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels carrying .said frame, a plurality of seed tanks and a plurality of fertilizer tanks mounted in said frame, a plurality of depositing means, conduit means connecting said tanks and said depositing means, means adapted to open and close said depositing means to deposit predetermined quantities of seed and fertilizer simultaneously, and means actuated by the rotation of said wheels adapted to open and close said depositing means whereby predetermined quantities of seed and encircling rings of fertilizer are deposited at predetermined intervals simultaneously.

9. In a seed drill, the combination comprising a frame, wheels carrying said frame, a seed tank mounted on said frame, a metering plate within said seed tank and actuated by said carrying wheels, a fertilizer tank mounted on said frame, a rotatable metering plate mounted within said fertilizer tank, means adapted to deposit seed and fertilizer, said means including a casing, a vertically dlsplaceable inner tube dividing said easing into a seed chamber and a fertilizer chamber, a helical baiilein said fertilizer chamber adapted to equalize the distribution of fertilizer in said chamber and a rod coaxial with said in ner tube, closure means attached at the lower extremity of said dlsplaceable tube adapted to cooperate with the ends of said casing and said rod, and means actuated by the rotation of said wheels to altemately' open said closure means and angularly displace said seed metering plate. LEVI JACK PE'I'IE'IT. 

